Karna M Foster

Karna Marie Foster's application for a position to help manage sunrises and sunsets was accepted by God on Sunday, June 23 at 12:40 a.m.She entered eternal life at the age of 67 after a brief stay at the Monmouth Nursing Home. She led a beautiful life doing traveling, painting, collecting and socializing with many friends. Her nephew Bruce & (Angie) Harrell, their children, Kelsey & Aaron. Nephew Roger & (Angela) Harrell, their children Bailey, Mason, and Logan Hocker, Anthony & Reece Harrell, were a very special part of her life, always keeping current pictures of them on her desk at work. Her sister Donna Harrell of Moline, cousin Liz Turley of Biggsville and Dee Olson of Monmouth, will greatly miss the time she shared on the phone each evening with her "Checking on you" calls. Sending greetings for birthdays, anniversaries, sympathy, graduations, births and "just because" was a daily occurrence for her. In the spring time going with friends to local and distant nurseries in search of early girl tomato plants and unusual flowers and grasses like "king tut" were eagerly anticipated trips. When visitors were ready to leave her home they always ended with "look at my flowers and tomato plants before you go."Karna retired from the Midwest Bank of Western Illinois as Public Relations Officer this year. After graduating from Union High School at Biggsville she attended Western Illinois University and on June 14, 1964 she started her 49 year banking career at Monmouth Trust and Savings Bank in the book keeping department. Her banking career spanned changes from pen and paper to electronic and mobile banking. She was the organizer for the first grocery store bank in the area, at the Econo Foods. Karna received the Silver Award from National Commerce Banking Services for this Marquette Bank endeavor. She was also honored with the Athena Award as Business Woman of the year. Karna participated in leadership roles for numerous local clubs and organizations in the Monmouth community. She organized the bank "Christmas Angel Tree" program for needy Monmouth children, and served as chairman for twenty five years. She served on the Carl Sandburg Foundation Board and two terms as Monmouth City Treasurer. Karna will be reunited with her parents Robert Lewis and Evelyn Olson Foster. Brother-in-law Rusty Harrell, cousin Stan Olson and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Services:Friends are invited to attend a open visitation at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth on Wednesday, June 26. - family will not be in attendance. Funeral services will be held at the Biggsville United Presbyterian Church on Thursday, June 27. A visitation with family will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. with funeral services at 4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Monmouth Angel Tree at Midwest bank and Jamison center in Monmouth.